State Briefs

Bond set for teen accused of killing girl

LUXORA (AP) - A prosecutor says a northeast Arkansas teenager accused of killing an 11-year-old girl will be held on $2 million cash bond.

Prosecutor Scott Ellington said a judge on Thursday found probable cause and set bond for the 17-year-old accused of killing 11-year-old Jessica Williams.

Ellington is expected to file a formal charge against the teen after authorities finish preparing a file on the case.

Authorities found Jessica's body in a ditch on Wednesday morning after her father told investigators she was last seen playing with a dog and riding a bike on Tuesday evening near Gosnell.

A Mississippi County Sheriff's Department document says the teen admitted to killing Jessica.

That document says the teen said he choked Jessica and pushed her over the side of a bridge.

Judge acquits FS man in wife's death

FORT SMITH (AP) - A Fort Smith man charged in the fatal stabbing of his pregnant wife has been acquitted by reason of mental disease or defect.

On Thursday, Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge James Cox acquitted James Herring in the May 2012 fatal stabbing of his wife, 32-year-old Celestia Duffin. Authorities say Celestia Duffin collapsed in the lobby of the Fort Smith Police Department just after asking for help.

Duffin's baby, Keegan Wayne Herring, was delivered by C-section but died before he could be transferred to Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Prosecutors charged Herring with two counts of capital murder and announced plans to seek the death penalty. The Southwest Times Records reports the judge committed Herring to the custody of the Arkansas State Hospital for treatment.

State reminds drivers to use extra caution in work zones during the weekend

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - State transportation officials are reminding drivers to use extra caution when driving through work zones during the Labor Day holiday.

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department says it has been working to open as many travel lanes as possible for the weekend. But even with those efforts, the agency says travelers will likely face work zones and possible delays due to an increased volume of holiday traffic.

"The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department wants travelers to have a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend. That's why we always make an effort to limit work zones as much as possible during each holiday," said Scott Bennett, the department's director.

Arkansas' major lane closures over the holiday are on Interstate 40 in Pope County near Russellville; Interstate 540 in Crawford and Sebastian counties near Ft. Smith; and on U.S. 67 in White County near Bald Knob.

Cotton growers see bugs, disease ahead of this year's harvest

LITTLE ROCK (AP) - Arkansas cotton growers have battled pests and disease this year, and the emergence of a fungus late in the season indicates a potential threat in the years ahead.

State growers are expected to harvest estimated 270,000 acres of cotton in 2013, down by more than half from 600,000 acres a year ago. As recently as 2006, Arkansas growers planted nearly 1.2 million acres of cotton.

Agriculture officials say growers will suffer yield losses due to tarnished plant bugs. And the emergence of Corynespora leaf spot is a new challenge for Arkansas growers. The fungus has caused problems in other cotton-growing states

The disease can be controlled by spraying fungicide, but that adds costs.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

State Briefs

A prosecutor says a northeast Arkansas teenager accused of killing an 11-year-old girl will be held on $2 million cash bond.